I.perf. peposci, Val. Antias ap. Gell. 7, 9, 9), v. inch. a. [for porc-scere; Sanscr. root parkh- prakh-, to ask; cf.: precor, procus, procax], to ask for urgently; to beg, demand, request, desire (syn.: flagito, postulo, peto).
I. In gen., constr. usually with aliquid, aliquem (sibi): aliquid ab aliquo; also with a double acc., with ut, with inf., or with acc. and inf., or wholly absol.: “poscere est secundum Varronem, quotiens aliquid pro merito nostro deposcimus: petere vero est cum aliquid humiliter et cum precibus postulamus,” Serv. Verg. A. 9, 194.
(α).
With acc.: “posco atque adeo flagito crimen,” Cic. Planc. 19, 48; cf. Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 28, § 71: “argentum,” id. ib. 2, 4, 20, § 44; “2, 3, 34, § 78: pugnam,” Liv. 2, 45, 6: nec mi aurum posco, Enn. ap. Cic. Off. 1, 12, 38 (Ann. v. 200 Vahl.): “si quid poscam,” Plaut. Aul. 2, 5, 10: “pulvinos,” Cic. de Or. 1, 7, 29; id. Planc. 19, 48: “vades poposcit,” id. Rep. 2, 36, 61; cf.: “audaciae partes Roscii sibi poposcerunt,” Cic. Rosc. Am. 13, 35: “peccatis veniam poscentem (preceded by postulare),” Hor. S. 1, 3, 75.—
(β).
With ab: “fac, ut audeat Tibi credere omnia, abs te petere et poscere,” Ter. Heaut. 5, 1, 53: diem a praetore peposcit, Val. Antias ap. Gell. 7, 9, 9: “abs te litteras,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 16, § 36; 2, 2, 47, § 117: “tutorem ab aliquo,” Suet. Aug. 94: “bibere a me poscis,” Vulg. Joann. 4, 9.—
(γ).
With a double acc.: “parentes pretium pro sepulturā liberum poscere,” Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 3, § 7: “magistratum nummos,” id. ib. 2, 1, 17, § “44: aliquem causam disserendi,” id. Tusc. 3, 3, 7: “claves portarum magistratus,” Liv. 27, 24, 8: “non ita creditum Poscis Quintilium deos,” Hor. C. 1, 24, 12: “cur me in decursu lampada poscis?” Pers. 6, 61: “poscenti vos rationem,” Vulg. 1 Pet. 3, 15.—Hence, pass.: poscor aliquid, I am asked for something, something is asked or demanded of me (poet. and in post-class. prose): “gravidae posceris exta bovis,” they ask you for the entrails, Ov. F. 4, 670; cf.: “poscor meum Laelapa,” they demand of me my Lœlaps, id. M. 7, 771: “nec tantum segetes alimentaque debita dives Poscebatur humus,” id. ib. 1, 138: “quod rationem pecuniae posceretur,” Gell. 4, 18, 12; to be called upon or invoked to inspire a poet or to sing: “aversus Apollo Poscitur invitā verba pigenda lyrā,” Prop. 4 (5), 1, 76.(better reading poscis ab); cf. absol. Palilia poscor: Non poscor frustra; “si favet alma Pales,” Ov. F. 4, 721; so, “poscimur Aonides,” Ov. M. 5, 333: “poscimur,” Hor. C. 1, 32, 1.—
(δ).
With ut: “poscimus, ut cenes civiliter,” Juv. 5, 112: “poscimus ut sit, etc.,” id. 7, 71; Tac. H. 2, 39: poposcit, ut haec ipsa quaestio diligentius tractaretur, Aug. Civ. Dei, 2, 21.—（ε) With inf. or acc. and inf. (poet. and in post-Aug. prose): “poscat sibi fabula credit,” Hor. A. P. 339; cf.: “immolare Fauno, Seu poscat agnā sive malit haedo,” id. C. 1, 4, 12: “esse sacerdotes delubraque vestra tueri Poscimus,” Ov. M. 8, 708: “contraque occurrere poscunt,” Val. Fl. 4, 194; Pers. 1, 128; Claud. in Eutr. 1, 151.—In prose: “ego vero te etiam morari posco inter voluptates,” Sen. Contr. 1, 8; Arn. 7, p. 254. So, too, perh. (acc. to Stephanus's conjecture): “vos fallere poscunt,” Rutil. Lup. Fig. 2, 19, p. 181 Frotsch.—（ζ) Ellipt.: “poscunt majoribus poculis, sc. bibere,” they challenge to drink from larger goblets, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 26, § 66.—（η) Absol., to beg, be a beggar: “improbus es, cum poscis, ait. Sed pensio clamat, posce,” Juv. 9, 63 sq.—
B. Of inanimate and abstract subjects, to demand, require, need: “quod res poscere videbatur,” Caes. B. G. 7, 1: “cum usus poscit,” id. ib. 4, 2: quod negotium poscebat, Sail J. 56, 1; 70, 3; Quint. 11, 3, 162 et saep.—
II. In partic.
A. To demand for punishment, to ask the surrender of: accusant ii, quos populus poscit, Cic. Rosc. Am. 5, 13; cf.: “hujus tantae cladis auctor Annibal poscitur,” Flor. 2, 6, 7: “nec poscitur auctor,” Sil. 2, 44: “poscendum poenae juvenem jubebat,” id. 1, 677; so Liv. 9, 26.—
B. In gen., to call one (ante-class. and poet.): “clamore hominem posco,” Plaut. Curc. 5, 3, 5: “gemitu Alciden,” Sen. Herc. Oet. 1887.—Pass.: ego poscor Olympo (dat. of agent), Olympus calls me, summons me to the combat, Verg. A. 8, 533: “poscimur,” Ov. M. 2, 144.—
2. In partic., to call upon, invoke: “supplex tua numina posco,” Verg. A. 1, 666.—
C. In selling.
1. To ask, demand for a thing, to offer at a price: “tanti quanti poscit, vin' tanti illam emi?” Plaut. Merc. 2, 4, 22: pro reliquis (libris) idem pretium poposcit, Varr. ap. Lact. 1, 6, 10.—
2. To ask, bid, offer a price for a thing: “agite licemini. Qui cenā poscit? ecqui poscit prandio?” Plaut. Stich. 1, 3, 68; id. Merc. 2, 3, 101; Plin. 35, 10, 36, § 88.—
D. To demand one's hand, ask in marriage: “eam si jubes, frater, tibi me poscere, poscam,” Plaut. Aul. 2, 1, 38: “filiam tuam mihi uxorem posco,” id. ib. 2, 2, 42: “tibi permittam, posce, duce,” id. Trin. 2, 2, 103: “sine dote posco tuam sororem filio,” id. ib. 2, 4, 98: “tuam sororem uxorem alicui,” id. ib. 2, 4, 49.
